Stress Management

Natural Remedies for Immunity

Amino Acids

Amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein. Twenty amino acids are required in human health, and eight of these are considered essential nutrients because the body cannot make them.

One amino acid, lysine, improves the body's ability to fight infections. 
Carnitine is a nutrient composed of two amino acids (lysine and methionine).  Glutathione is a substance that is composed of three amino acids. It is an especially powerful immune stimulant.

Lysine

Lysine is an anti- infective amino acid. It boosts the body's production of antiviral agents. High levels of lysine in the cell inhibit viral growth and and its reproduction.

Carnitine

Carnitine is composed of two amino acids, lysine and methionine. It works closely with CoQ10 and transports fats into the mitochondria where they are burned as fuel. Infections appear to deplete carnitine levels. Supplementation seems to restore the immune response.

In one study, doctors gave ten patients with full-blown tuberculosis two grams of acetyl- L-carnitine daily. After thirty days, their T cells showed more antibacterial activity.

Carnitine was also found to be useful in the treatment of AIDS. Researchers found that nearly three-fourths of the AIDS patients tested had carnitine levels substantially below normal. When they were given 6 grams of carnitine daily for two weeks, their white blood cells and other measures of immunity significantly increased.

Glutathione

Several glutathione-containing compounds are involved in immunity, detoxification of hazardous compounds, and quenching of free radicals. 
Glutathione also enhances the activity of the white blood cells, especially the phagocytes, which devour invading molecules and microorganisms.

Glutathione combines with selenium to form glutathione peroxidase, one of the body's own free radical scavengers. Glutathione also helps increase the effectiveness of vitamin C, by converting the oxidized vitamin back to its effective form.

Our body produces glutathione. However, it may need some help when we are under attack by infections. 

Glutathione supplements were found to strengthen the immunity in very young and elderly people.

Increases in glutathione peroxidase was found to slow HIV virus, the virus responsible for AIDS. Reverse transcriptase activity (the method HIV uses to reproduce and multiply) decreased by 80 to 90 percent after treatment with various forms of glutathione or cysteine (an amino acid present in glutathione).

Natural Sources for Glutathione

Glutathione is present in virtually all foods, but the best sources include fresh vegetables, fruits, beans, and animal food products. Processing can reduce glutathione quantities in food. 

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